Protection of device from electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage

Abstract

A first dissipative adhesive (DA) is connected to at least a portion of leads that are exposed in a first plane of a flexible cable in a coverage area. A second DA is connected over at least a portion of the first DA. A third DA is connected to a ground and over a fourth DA. A servo connection is electrically connected to a grounding tab via the third DA. A common bus bar is connected to the portion of the leads via the second DA.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus, comprising:
 a first dissipative adhesive (DA) coupled to at least a portion of leads that are exposed in a first plane of a flexible cable in a coverage area; 
 a second DA that is coupled over at least a portion of the first DA; and 
 a third DA coupled to a ground and coupled over a fourth DA; 
 
       wherein a servo connection is electrically connected to a grounding tab via the third DA, and a common bus bar is coupled to the portion of the leads via the second DA. 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the common bus bar disposed in a second plane of the flexible cable. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second plane is an outer layer cover of the flexible cable. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first DA provides electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection to at least one element of an electronic device, and the first DA electrically joins the portion of the leads in the first plane with the common bus bar in the second plane. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein coupling of the common bus bar to the portion of the leads via the first DA and the second DA avoids crossing lines in existing metal layers of the flexible cable, the first plane comprises an inner layer of the flexible cable exposed via a window opening, and the common bus bar is coupled to the outer layer of the flexible cable. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein conductivity of the common bus bar is greater than conductivity of the first DA and conductivity of the third DA. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the common bus bar comprises a metal deposited on the flexible cable. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the common bus bar comprises a conductive paint, and the at least one element of the electronic device is a read transducer of a magnetic head. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the common bus bar comprises a metalized pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the common bus bar placement on the outer surface of the flexible cable eliminates passing the leads into a separate layer and passing the leads underneath trace wires. 
     
     
       11. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) device, comprising:
 a first dissipative adhesive (DA) coupled to an exposed portion of leads in a first plane of a flexible cable; and 
 a second DA that is coupled over at least a portion of the first DA; 
 a bus bar is coupled to the exposed portion of the leads via the second DA; and 
 a third DA coupled to a ground, the bus bar, and coupled over a fourth DA, 
 wherein the first DA and the second DA are separated from the third DA and the fourth DA. 
 
     
     
       12. The ESD device of  claim 11 , wherein the bus bar is disposed in a second plane of the flexible cable and coupled to the exposed portion of the leads via the first DA, and at least a portion of the first DA is coupled over at least a portion of the bus bar. 
     
     
       13. The ESD device of  claim 11 , wherein the first DA electrically connects the bus bar to the exposed portion of the leads, and the bus bar comprises one of: a second DA, a metal, a conductive paint and a metalized pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape. 
     
     
       14. The ESD device of  claim 11 , wherein conductivity of the bus bar is greater than conductivity of the first DA and the conductivity of the third DA. 
     
     
       15. The ESD device of  claim 12 , wherein the second plane is an outer layer cover of the flexible cable and conductivity of the bus bar is greater than conductivity of the first DA. 
     
     
       16. The ESD device of  claim 12 , wherein a servo connection is electrically connected to a grounding tab via the third DA. 
     
     
       17. The ESD device of  claim 12 , wherein coupling of the bus bar to the exposed portion of the leads via the first DA and the second DA avoids crossing lines in existing metal layers of the flexible cable. 
     
     
       18. The ESD device of  claim 12 , wherein the first plane comprises an inner layer of the flexible cable exposed via a window opening, and the bus bar is coupled to the outer layer of the flexible cable. 
     
     
       19. The ESD device of  claim 12 , wherein the first DA provides ESD protection to at least one element of an electronic device, and the first DA electrically joins the exposed portion of the leads in the first plane with the bus bar in the second plane. 
     
     
       20. The ESD device of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one element of the electronic device is a read transducer of a magnetic head.